The elimination of toxins and waste products, regulation of acid-base balance, maintenance of water levels, and regulation of blood pressure are all essential functions performed by the kidneys.
In any case, if your primary care physician feels that your kidneys are not working as expected, then you need to undergo a renal panel test. This article explains the purpose, procedure, and conditions when you should opt for a renal panel test. Stay tuned!
Objective
A renal panel test, also known as a kidney test or a kidney function test, aims to identify or rule out potential kidney disease or impairment. A blood sample is used for this panel test. It can be used for diagnosis, screening, or monitoring, depending on the situation.
When should I get a renal panel?
As a diagnostic test, doctors recommend a renal panel test when you have complications due to a kidney issue. Here is the list of those complications:
- Changes in urine including its appearance, quantity, and frequency
- Pain
- Muscle cramp
- Swelling in legs, arms, hands, or face
- Appetite changes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Breathing difficulty
- Concentration loss
- Itching
If you have certain risk factors for kidney disease, the renal panel or other tests of kidney health are typically prescribed as a screening test. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and a family history of kidney disease are among these risk factors.
Screening with a renal panel may be included in routine health exams for people who are more likely to have kidney problems. This kind of screening is uncommon for people without risk factors.
A renal panel can be used to follow up on an abnormal renal panel test or to monitor a previous kidney condition. It may also be used to evaluate how well you respond to treatment for kidney disease or injury.
A renal panel may be prescribed by your doctor before or after a medical procedure or if you are taking any medications that can affect kidney function to check for kidney-related side effects.
What does the renal panel test measure?
The components in most renal panels include:
- Glucose: Glucose provides the body with energy and is also referred to as blood sugar. However, metabolic issues like diabetes can be a sign of excess glucose in the blood.
- Potassium: One of several electrolytes is potassium. Minerals called electrolytes are necessary for maintaining a healthy fluid balance, maintaining an acid-base equilibrium, and allowing muscles and nerves to function normally. Potassium is found all over the body and comes from your diet.
- Sodium: Sodium is one more electrolyte that comes from your eating regimen, and how much sodium in the body is generally constrained by the kidneys.
- Chloride: Chloride is an electrolyte that works with other electrolytes to do different things, like keeping fluids in a healthy balance.
- Anion gap: The anion gap is an estimation that assesses an electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes can have positive or negative charges, such as sodium or potassium or bicarbonate, or chloride. This test looks at how the two types of acid are balanced to see if you have too much acid (acidosis) or too little acid (alkalosis).
- Creatinine: Creatinine is a waste derivative formed due to normal muscular activities. The kidneys eliminate creatinine from the blood so that it can be excreted via urine.
- Blood urea nitrogen (BUN): Urea nitrogen, at times called urea, is a byproduct of protein digestion. This cycle produces smelling salts which are then switched over completely to a less harmful structure, urea. It is eliminated from the body in the form of urine, just like creatinine, by the kidneys.
- CO2 (carbon dioxide or bicarbonate): It estimates how much carbon dioxide (CO2) is available in your blood. This is about how the kidneys and lungs work.
Interpretation of Renal Panel Test Results
However, there will be a fluctuation in the range in case you are pregnant. To learn more about what these levels might mean, discuss each test in detail with your doctor.
Final Thoughts
Kidney problems can be dangerous and must be diagnosed right away in order to be treated promptly. You can anticipate renal problems and take action before they become more serious with the help of renal panel tests. In the case of kidney disease as well as the majority of diseases, early detection measures can expedite recovery.
In order to undergo a renal panel test, numerous individuals conduct Internet searches such as “How to find the best diagnostic lab near me.” Devansh Lab Werks provides the best Alabama facility for this renal panel test. Affordable cost for lab testing with top-notch medical care is our motto. Reach out to us immediately.